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Fruitful Use of Talents

Pastor Jeremy Schultz
October 16, 2011

Over the past few years, talent competitions have been popping up all over the TV! Millions have been entertained by singers on American Idol and dancers on So You Think You Can Dance. And one thing seems especially clear: America's Got Talent! (Or so they'd like you to think!) Actually the hilarity of some of this programming comes from the fact that many of these people apparently have no talent at all. And yet somehow at the end of each contest, a new star and their talent is left to shine!

Well I'm here to tell you today that it's not just America that has talent. But St. Paul Lutheran Church has got talent...lots and lots of talent! And as we continue our sermon series today, we consider how each one of us makes fruitful use of talent. Listen again to our Scripture reading for today:

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 4:10-11).

Each and every one of us has been given talents, abilities, and gifts. But sometimes we look at the talents and gifts of others and we think that God must have made a mistake when it comes to us. We see others singing in the church choir, while we can't carry a tune in a bucket! We see others planting fall flowers, yet we don't have green thumbs, fingers or toes! But friends, God has made no mistake with you. God, in His grace and in His wisdom, has given each one of us certain talents and gifts. He gives us the ones we can use the best and with which we can accomplish the most. He wants to accomplish certain things through each one of us. And so to each one, God gives talents and gifts that are unique.

Take James Michener. For those of you that don't know...he's the author of many travel and historical books like Alaska, The Source and Centennial. The story goes that late one night; a minister came to visit the author in his home. A family, the minister said, was in need of financial help as a result of an injury to their daughter. Michener quickly reached for his checkbook and wrote a check for five hundred dollars. But the pastor stopped Michener from writing the check. Noting that the surgery was expensive, the minister related his real reason for visiting: He hoped that Michener would write a story for the local newspaper, one that would inspire numerous other citizens to give. Michener explained that his schedule was full, and that he didn't have time to write even the one-page story that the minister was asking for. He insisted that the minister accept his $500 check. But again the pastor refused. “I know you are a busy man. I also know that your talent is worth much more than five hundred dollars. That would be the cheapest thing you could give. I am asking you for a sacrifice. . . . I am asking you to give your talent.” The next day the pastor found in his mailbox, hand-delivered by Michener, the news story that he had requested. The story would be carried by the local newspaper, and would result in donations of more than five thousand dollars! God has blessed each one of us with unique talents and abilities. Some can sing. Some can plant. One of our members prayed about how he would serve the Lord and he created and began managing our website. Another lady saw that there were no special banners for baptisms and she began making them. Another person told me just last month, “Pastor, I want you to know that I am praying about how I might serve God here. I'm praying and I'm trying to listen and I just want you to know.

Now here is the thing. God blesses us and gives us talents for a reason. It is so that we may be equipped to serve Him and His people. Just as God has given us eyes and ears, hands and feet so that our bodies function effectively, God has given each one of us talents and skills and abilities as members of the body of Christ, so that the body of the Church might function effectively. Remember the text.

We have a choice then. Do we want to be self-centered or God-centered? Do we to bury our talents or leave their potential unreached? Or do we want to serve God and His purposes? St. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 4:2, “It is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.” Jesus said in Luke 12:48, “From everyone who has been given much, much more will be demanded; and from one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”

From the very beginning, God has poured His life out for each one of us. He created us in His image to be like Him in every way. He had a plan to redeem us from sin and to secure our eternal life. His love for us was so great the He gave up His one and only Son on the cross for us. He has done everything He could so that we would know His love for us in this life and for our eternal life.

What a joy it is that God uses imperfect people to do great things for Him and to extend His kingdom! Moses stuttered. Abraham was too old. Timothy was too young. Ruth was from Moab. Lazarus was dead. Yet by the grace of God, each one was used in a unique way to proclaim that God is Lord of all and that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and Savior of the world.

When you think that you are unimportant and that you are really insignificant, then it's time for you to hear the Gospel again - the Good News of just how much God thinks about you and how much He cares for you. He considered you so important that He laid down His very life for you. He redeemed you from the power of sin with His own precious blood. And He will love you forever!

When we allow ourselves to be used by God He will take our unique talents...the way that He has gifted us...and bless them and use them to build His kingdom and to reach lost people. Yes. St. Paul Lutheran Church has got talent...lots and lots of talent! May God continue to pour Himself into you through Word and Sacrament that you may make fruitful use of it! Amen.